Varta AG, a prominent German battery manufacturer, continues to grapple with the aftermath of a cyberattack that prompted the temporary shutdown of its IT systems and production. Almost two weeks after detecting the breach on February 12, the company has yet to restart production at its global plants in Germany, Romania, and Indonesia. In a recent statement, Varta AG admitted the uncertainty surrounding the resolution timeline and the full operational restoration of its five production sites worldwide.
The cyberattack, carried out by an organized group of hackers, breached Varta’s high-security standards, leading to the proactive shutdown of IT systems. The company faces challenges in assessing the extent of possible damage and determining the insurance coverage. A dedicated “task force” is collaborating with analysts and forensic experts to systematically test and recommission the affected systems. Although processes independent of the company’s network are set to resume, such as maintenance and preparatory work, the complete production restart remains uncertain. Varta AG emphasizes the criminal sophistication behind the attack and has involved authorities, with a formal police investigation underway.